Cutch Or Random Sketches by Mrs. Postans - 1839; Copyright © 1 GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION of the PROVINCE of CUTCH
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OR, RANDOM SKETCHES, TAKEN DURING A RESIDENCE IN ONE OF THE NORTHERN PROVINCES OF WESTERN INDIA; INTERSPERSED WITH LEGENDS AND CRADITIONS Reproduced by SANI H. PANHWAR (2020) CUTCH; OR , R A NDOM SKETCH ES, TA KEN DURING A RESIDENCEINONE OFTH E NORTH ERN PROV INCESOF W ESTER N INDIA ;INTERSPER SED W ITH Legends and CradItions B Y M R S.POSTA NS. 1839 ILLUSTRA TEDW ITH ENGRA V INGSFROM ORIGINA L DR A W INGS BYTHEA UTHOR. Reproduced by Sa niH .Panhw a r (2020) DURBAR HORSEMAN, In the service and pay of the Rao of Cutch. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE JOHN FITZGIBBON, EARL OF CLARE, LATE GOVERNOR OF BOMBAY, &c., &c., &c. MY LORD, The honor your Lordship has conferred on me, by allowing your name to be prefixed to this unpretending volume, is highly flattering. For such a favor I should not have presumed to hope, had I not been aware of your Lordship's liberality of sentiment; the subject also being one with which your Lordship is well acquainted, and in which you have taken considerable interest. In this, my first attempt to place myself before the public in the responsible position of an author, many errors may probably be discovered, for which I feel convinced your Lordship will be disposed to entertain every generous indulgence. In the anxious hope, therefore, that, should the ensuing pages be found deficient in actual importance, they may offer something for the amusement of a few leisure hours, I have the honour to subscribe myself, With the highest respect, My Lord, Your Lordship's most grateful, Most obedient, Very humble Servant, MARIANNE POSTANS. INTRODUCTION. SOME time resident in the province of Cutch, and remarking with much interest many local peculiarities, I am led to imagine that a few slight sketches of its more striking characteristics may be thought worthy of notice. General acquaintance with the remote stations which form a considerable part of our Indian possessions is very limited; and as Cutch, from its geographical position, as well as from its maritime importance, is likely to become connected with the favorite and apparently feasible plan of steam-navigation on the Indus, it will perhaps be deemed more deserving of attention than other stations not likely to be in any way affected by the progress of commercial civilization. As European society in the East has been frequently and admirably described, and as military camps in India differ little except in size, I have restricted myself to the attempt of delineating the characteristics of the country, and of the various tribes which compose its native population. In noticing the natural productions of Cutch, I have not ventured to offer any description in scientific terms. Throughout the work, I have frequently diverged from the immediate subject, to offer such reflections as were suggested by the occasion, and which I trust will not be regarded as impertinent by the reader. These pages are the result of a series of notes, taken during a residence of some years in Cutch; during which I have enjoyed unusual opportunities of becoming acquainted with the general and domestic manners of the population in its various castes. The illustrative engravings are all from original designs, which, as productions of an amateur artist, will, I hope, equally with the literary sketches, be honored with the indulgent suffrage of the reader. CAMP, BHOOJ: Sept. 29th, 1837. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. THE VOYAGE. Embarkation. — Scenery of Bombay. — Steam Vessels. — Departure. — Colabah Light- House. — Description of a Cutch Kotia, or Native Boat.— Indolence and Filthiness of the Crew.— Arrival at Mandavie. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 CHAPTER II. MANDAVIE. Harbour.— Population.— Etymology of the word "Catch."— Commerce. — Boat- building.— Pilots.— Arab Sailors. — Characteristics of Mandavie, and of its Inhabitants.— Palace.— Story of Ram Sing, the Architect.— Agriculture.— Female Costume.— Holidays.— Climate. — Fish. — Ruins of the City of Raipoor. — Legend of Vere and Vicramaditya, Grandsons of Indra.— Illustration — The Nine Gems of the Court of Vicramaditya.— Road to Bhooj.— Cutch Carts.— Town of Kaira. — Manufacture of Cotton Cloths. — Mahomedan Temple.— Women of Kaira. 7 CHAPTER III. HILL FORT, AND CITY OF BHOOJ. Distant view of the City.— Snake Tower.— Population.— Sacred Bulls.— Black Buffaloes.— Palace of Rao Daisuljee, Prince of Cutch.— State Elephants.— History and Character of Rao Daisnljee.— Private ception Chamber of the Rao.— Negro Giant.— State Apartments.— Rao Gore.— Wrestlers.— Garden of the Palace.— Water-works.— Royal Stables.— Kattywar Horses.— Equestrian Appointments.— Native Horsemanship.— Durbar Horsemen.— Custom, or Tenure of "Mohsulsee."— Poorrah Auxiliary Horse. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 16 CHAPTER IV. THE HAREM. Wives of the Rao.— Guard of Eunuchs.— The Author's Visit. — Dowry of the Ladies.— The Rao's Mother.— Beauty of the Soodah Women. — Costume of the Queen Mother. — Jewels of the Ranees. — Etiquette of Departure. — Moral and Intellectual state of Women in the East. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 28 CHAPTER V. HINDU TOMBS. Effects of an Earthquake.— Centre Tomb.— Tomb of the Wives of Rao Rahiden.— Atonement of the Rao for his temporary Conversion to Mahomedanism. .. 33 CHAPTER VI. SUTTEE. Recent Suttee in Cutch.— Immemorial usage.— Tests of Conjugal Affection from the Shastrus.— Description of the Pyre.— Apparent apathy of the Widow.— Address of Captain Burnes.— Devotion and Heroism of the Victim.— Suffocation.— Hindu Belief.— Monuments of Suttee. — Censurable Conduct of the Rao.— Self-immolation of a Female Water-bearer, on the Death of the Rao's Mother.— Effects of Popular Superstition.— Means of eluding British Authority.— Alternative Penances. .. .. 35 CHAPTER VII. ANJAR. Situation of the Town of Anjar. — British Residency.— Establishment of Rats.— Sacred Fish.— Vishnoo's First Avatara.— Legend of Jaisur Peer.— Domestic Habits of the Poor.— Precocity.— Wandering Fakirs.— Remarkable Brahmin Mendicant.— Population of Anjar.— Destructive Earthquake of 1819.— Legend of a Rishi, one of the Seven Holy Penitents.— Geological Character of Cutch.— Natural Convulsions of Earlier Periods.— Hindu Opinions respecting the Great Earthquake. .. .. .. .. 41 CHAPTER VIII THE RUNN. Extent and Locality of the Great Northern Runn. — Mirage. — Islands on the Runn.— Hindu Apollo.— Indian Pastorals.— Zoology of the Runn. — Hog-hunting. — Indian Sports, Poetry, and Music. — The Wild Ass.— Black Partridge.— Sacred Birds.— Paroquets. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 49 CHAPTER IX. RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES IN MITCH. THE NAGA PACHAMI. Holy Processions.— The Hooli.— Worship of the Naga Pachami, or Cobra Capella.— Ceremonies of Snake Worship.— Presence and Participation of the Rao.— Legend of Sirdaee; or, the Origin of Snake Worship.— Reflections on the Worship of Idols.— Bigotry of the Hindus.— Policy of the British Government. .. .. .. 54 CHAPTER X. RELIGIOUS SECTS IN CUTCH. Division of Sects. — Hinduism and Mahomedanism. — Benevolence of Hindus towards Brute Animals. Sect of the Jains.— Singularity of Costume. — Religious Tenets. — Jain Temples. — Monastic Establishments.— Kanphuttees of Denodur.— Charitable Principles. — Celibacy. — Comparison of the Kanpliuttees with the Monastic Orders of Europe.— Costume of Tournath, the Kanphuttee Peer, or Superior. — Derivation of the word Kanphuttee. — Fakirs of th Gosein.— Legend of Dburrumnath.— Sect of the Kaprias of Mhurr— Privileges of the Rajah of the Kaprias.— Idol Temple of Parvati. — Division of Hindu Cycles, or Ages. .. .. .. .. .. .. 62 CHAPTER XI. THE MILITARY TRIBES OF CUTCH. Feodal Tenure.— Jharrejahs, and their Retainers, the Grasias.— Rajpoot Women. — Origin of the Jharrejahs. — Supposed Murder of the Princess Kesser Bhye. Meyannahs, or Warriors. — Soodahs. — Beauty of the Soodah Women. — Intermarriages. — Jharrejah Costume.— Arms. — Eastern Practice of Dyeing Beards and Moustaches. .. 71 CHAPTER XII. CASTLES IN CUTCH. Picturesque Sites.— Feodal Times and Tenures.— Reflections on the Feodal System.— Treachery of a Mahratta Chief. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 77 CHAPTER XIII. INFANTICIDE IN CUTCH. Pride, the Origin of the Cold-blooded and Unnatural Crime of Infanticide.— Indifference of Rajpoot Mothers to their Offspring.— British Treaty for the Preservation of Female Infants. — Disproportion of Male and Female Population. — Professed Intentions of the Rao.— Insufficiency of Coercive Measures.— Barriers of Caste. 80 CHAPTER XIV. RUINS IN CUTCH. Ruins of the Cities of Poorugud, Goontre, and Wagum Chowrah. — Palace of Poorugud.— Style of Architecture.— Temple of Mahadeo. — Legend of the Rookhees, or Seven Holy Men of Damascus. Effects of Hindu Superstition. .. .. 84 CHAPTER XV. PILGRIMS. Pilgrimage to Mecca.— Privation and Fatigue.— Usbeck Tartars.— Mahomedans of Yarcund.— Mahomed Niyaz.— The Kebla Niraah.— Pilgrim Presents.— Hindu Pilgrims.— Penance of Five Brahmins. — Peeran Peer, the Saint of Bagdat. — Tombs.— Mendicant Fakirs.— Cause of Hindu Indifference to Life. — Tenets of the Hindu Faith. — Horrible Penances. — Hindu Fanatic. — Remarkable Custom of Traga. .. 88 CHAPTER XVI. WORKMEN OF CUTCH. Phrenological Development of the Organ of Imitation.— Brass-founders, Embroiderers, Armourers, Gold and Silver-smiths, &c.— Cutch Armour.— Matchlocks.— Swords for the Fast of the Mohurrum.— Tambour Embroidery.— Goldsmiths' Imitations of European Patterns.— Talents for Design.— Rudeness of Implements. .. 95 CHAPTER XVII. MINSTRELSY OF CUTCH. National Melodies. — Hindu Musical Rhythm. — Knowledge of the Arts a Revelation from Heaven. — The Indian Apollo, the